Thursday, September 30, 2010

Reviewing Today’s Developments: Linda McMahon Is Uninformed and Lame on the Minimum Wage, and She Calls WWE ‘A Small Business’

Nothing is inevitable – not one of the many deaths of wrestlers employed by Linda McMahon; nor her misspeaking on the Connecticut Senate campaign trail in a way that would get everyone’s attention.

But today was the day the latter finally happened.

A few hours ago I was chatting with a respected journalist on the ground there, and we both expressed amazement that this was all unfolding without McMahon’s opponent, Richard Blumenthal, lifting a finger.

“The dude should be holding a presser in front of some blue-collar diner at 5 p.m. today,” the journalist said.

Late today Blumenthal’s spokeswoman, Maura Downes, emailed a statement to Daniela Altimari of the Hartford Courant: “Linda McMahon laid off ten percent of her workers and takes home $46 million a year so it’s no surprise she’s thinking about lowering the minimum wage. Connecticut’s families are hurting and Linda McMahon puts her own profits ahead of people of Connecticut. That’s not the kind of U.S. Senator the people of Connecticut need.”

I don’t know if this defines the extent to which way Blumenthal intends to pounce, or if he’s letting the controversy build and simmer until he can confront McMahon directly at next Monday’s debate, or what. In a few days we’ll have a sense of whether the task of defeating the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut can any longer be entrusted to her opponent or to the Democratic Party.

The arc of today’s events, from my personal perspective of course, is captured on Twitter:

Why are the hardest-hitting Linda McMahon stories not getting play in Connecticut? — http://bit.ly/bCeMqE

More material for Connecticut media seeking “traction” on Linda McMahon’s death mill: http://huff.to/aOBseG

Richard Blumenthal has strong foundation for making Linda McMahon’s record as WWE’s CEO the focus of Monday’s debate: http://bit.ly/cGP0co

Flap over her position on the minimum wage may prove to be a rare misstep by Linda McMahon, the ultra-disciplined corporate machine.

Linda McMahon, WWE ‘independent contractor’ death merchant, wobby on national minimum wage (good work by @thetrough): http://bit.ly/96wTzk

“Linda McMahon weighs lowering minimum wage” — Politico.com weighs in & McMahon spokesman spins like a top: http://politi.co/atwkeD

Thx, @ctcapitolreport, for Linda McMahon “WATCH” clip — but what world needs to see is her original statement, not just “walking it back”

Hartford Courant’s Rick Green: “Linda McMahon Steps In It. Her $$$taff Jumps Into Action” … http://bit.ly/dDtjHH

Linda McMahon “minimum wage” transcript proves she said what she meant and she meant what she said: http://bit.ly/cw3KvN

Hey, Linda McMahon, the “human bullet point” — Next time just say, “Discussion of minimum wage cuts belongs in the legislative arena.”

LINDA McMAHON: “WWE IS A SMALL BUSINESS.” See the link to the video at http://bit.ly/ayGdTM



Irv Muchnick

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